Act 06: SHELTER

In terms of architecture , shelter is determined by a basic structure that provides protection from natural circumstances. However on the basis of sentiment and emotion , shelter is the embodiment of the feeling of warmth , safety and comfort. There is no denying of the fact that such sense of shelter and protection is perfectly embodied by a fetus in a mother’s womb. The duty of ensuring protection and providing basic shelter is the epitome of service for a selfless motherly figure to a communist sympathizer. Sybil’s urgency to protect and ensure the safety of all those around her, including her family and the guerrillas were of such grave importance, that she willingly withstood every ounce of mental and physical torture the Japanese had to throw at her. Her act of bravery and selflessness is one that any motherly figure would do. Hence , this pinnacle part of the story is one that I definitely want to portray in the model.

This ideology originated from Sybil’s time in prison. She was interrogated several times a day. During her questioning, she was severely beaten and mutilated by the Japanese in hopes of squeezing the truth about the whereabouts and plans of the MPAJA out of her. Sybil understood that if she were to give up the secrets of the MPAJA, she would be free of her torments, but it would definitely mean the end of her friends in the MPAJA as well as all those that are linked to them. With that, Sybil heroically endured the harsh blows on her frail body which ultimately disabled her. She held on to the fact that if she were to be strong enough to withstand such abuse, the others would be safe. She protected not only the MPAJA, but her family and close friends as well. Her maternal instincts and motherly care was definitely evident to all those around her, as she always prioritized the safety of others before her own. Throughout the process of trial and error on my model, there were many variables that were manipulated and altered to achieve my concept of shelter. The most important and vital point in the process was to truly understand what shelter is. From this point on , I needed to experiment with ways on how to capture the notion of shelter in a 3-dimensional form that is of course not done in a literal and direct approach. A recreation of a womb with many layers and depth was done. In terms of materials, woods of different colours and types were used. A play in forms, and materials were taken into action.

Originally, my model was done with the use of paper mache, but it does not provided the sense of sturdiness , which is vital when imposing a feeling of protection. Hence , wood was its replacement. This material was selected as it is sturdy , yet easy to contour and interpreted into whatever shapes necessary ; much like a trait of Sybil’s. Fragmented glass, mirrors and wood lay across the base. These fragments signify the torment and abuse she had to endure to shelter those she truly cared about. The fragmented shards that lay across the base instigates an urgency for protection of the egg which ties together the maternal instinct of protection, hence signifying the vitality of the womb (shelter).

All in all,the book beautifully displayed the pain and sacrifice of the author. She is an inspiration and a symbol of true strength and courage. Her traits allowed her to protect what it was she believed in which is the freedom of Malaya, and also the safety of all that she truly cared about. This model is to commemorate her eagerness to shelter everybody before herself. ​